Random Baseball Trivia and Yankees' Classic Moments

Random Trivia, courtesy of Uncle John's 20th Anniversary Bathroom Reader:

A Regulation baseball has exactly 108 stitches.


On a more serious note, I'm sitting here, trying to come up with a classic Yankees' moment, and all I can think about is Joe Kennedy and Sean Taylor, and how they were taken from life way too soon (Taylor was only 24. That's three years older than me. Scary thought).

Life is precious. There is tragedy when anyone is taken from us too soon, but there is more tragedy when someone is taken without warning and often without reason.

I have to say, though, while we might mourn the loss, it is far more important to celebrate the life.

For anyone such as Kennedy or Taylor or Lou Gehrig or Thurman Munson or any other athlete taken from us too soon, it is far more important to remember what they gave us than how they were taken from us.




Yes, I know it's far from my most cheerful entry, but it is on my mind, especially as I've just found out Indians' pitcher Lara is also in critical condition after a car accident...

MVP(s) (Random Baseball Trivia, Week Six)

So right now we're waiting to hear that A-Rod is going to be named MVP (at least, we think we are...), so in honor of the MVP, I present this conundrum:

Nine players--enough to field one on-field team--have won the MVP award in back to back years. Not-so-coincidentally, they've got all nine positions covered.

Who's on the mother of all All Star teams?



The Answer

Yogi Berra, Catcher
Jimmy Fox, First Base
Joe Morgan, Second Base
Ernie Banks, Shortstop
Mike Schmidt, Third Base
Mickey Mantle, Outfield
Roger Maris, Outfield
Dale Murphy, Outfield

Hal Newhouser, Pitcher


Now, THAT is some team!

Thank you, Straight Dope

Lookie, Rookies! (Random Baseball Trivia Week Five)

Today's trivia nugget comes after discovering that on this day in 2001,

One year after playing Class-A ball, Albert Pujols (.329, 37, 130) is named the National League Rookie of the Year by BBWAA. The Cardinal freshman set NL rookie marks RBIs (130), total bases (360)and extra base hits (88) and fell one home run shy of tying the National League rookie record of 38 established by Frank Robinson in 1956 as a member of the Reds. I love this site


So I went looking for rookie trivia, and I stumble upon this: there are two baseball players that have won Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same year. They are:

* Fred Lynn in 1975 with the Boston Red Sox
* Ichiro Suzuki in 2001 with the Seattle Mariners

This one ain't half bad, either/

Now, of course, given Ichiro's previous playing experience in Japan, there was debate as to whether or not Ichiro should have been considered rookie of the year, but there should be no debate as to whether or not he should have won the MVP award--Seattle won 116 games in 2001.

Catch-All (Random Baseball Trivia, Week Four)

In honor of Joe Girardi being named manager, today's Random Baseball Trivia nuggets all concern catchers!

First, we have this one:

On May 15, 1973, California Angels backup catcher Jeff Torborg catches the third no-hitter of his career. He previously backstopped gems for Bill Singer and Sandy Koufax while with the Dodgers. This one is a 3-0 blanking of Kansas City and the first no-hitter for teammate Nolan Ryan.

I believe Mr. Ryan went on to have a few more no-hitters in his day...


Then we have:


On November 5, 1978, Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Manny Sanguillen was involved in one of the strangest trades in history. Oakland A's manager Chuck Tanner was still under contract. To obtain the rights to hire Tanner, the Pirates traded Sanguillen and $100,000 to Oakland for their Manager Tanner.

I wonder how that feels, being traded for a manager...is that a plus on your game calling skills, or saying that you're now officially too flabby to run around the bases?


The catch-all sourcs

And I'm Freeeeee, Free-Falling (Random Baseball Trivia Week 3)

Sheesh, I give you all more writing like you asked, and no one reads it? Does wonders for my psyche =P.

(okay, okay, A-Rod, opt out, etc...I get it...)


Well, after last night, the only appropriate topic for RBT would be something concerning free agents.

I could give you all the nugget that Scott Boras is not my favorite person, but I have a feeling you guys already know that.

So I have this nugget for you all:

The first baseball free agent did not play in the 1970s, like many of you probably think, but instead in 1937.

The player is named Tommy Henrich, he is one of the oldest baseball players still alive, at 94, and he was a free agent after his team had failed to resign him or release him.

As would be fitting, Henrich played for the Yankees.

here and Here.


I will be back with a more substantial A-Rod posting this afternoon.

Dog Days of Summer? Winter Wonderland? (Random Baseball Trivia, Week 2)

On this date in 1997, the coldest-ever World Series game was played in Cleveland (ew?), where the game time temperature was a balmy 38 degrees F. here

So, in acknowledgment of this, I have this weather-related nugget:

On 6 June 1957, a Dodgers/Cubs game, in Brooklyn, was called off not because of rain or snow or darkness, but because of fog. How bad was the fog? The outfield was not visible from home plate. here

Coincidence that Brooklyn moved to Los Angeles next year? Probably, but still, c'mon, Brooklyn's not London. Fog?



Go outside and enjoy today if you can; it's one of summer's last gasps.

I Don't Believe What I Just Saw! (Random Baseball Trivia, inaugural edition)

Today is the 19th anniversary of Kirk Gibson's famous home run--you know, the one where he was gimping so bad he couldn't really stand on his own, came up to pinch hit and then sent the Dodgers a 5-4 Game 1 World Series win, the one considered one of the greatest calls ever by Jack Buck "...it's a gonna be a home run! Unbelievable! The Dodgers win 5-4, I don't believe what I just saw! I don't believe what I just saw!"

Yeah?

That one.

So in honor of that, and since I can't find anything tidbit-ish enough, today's edition we have this tidbit on Vin Scully (who had quite a memorable quote of his own):

On the TV show "The X-Files", Dana Scully is named after...yep, you guessed it...Vin Scully!

And this tidbit on the 1988 LA Dodgers World Series run:

Despite Gibson's home run, Orel Hershiser won the World Series MVP, having an ERA of 1.00 over two starts.


Sorry for the short entry, but you had four from me yesterday! Four!

Back later with ALCS game 2 notes, but only if the game ends sometime before, oh, I don't know, one AM?